This 79-mile trip from Bowdon, GA to Roswell, GA is a manageable one-day drive, taking just over an hour and forty minutes. You'll spend about 55% of your time on highways, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 43.4 miles on the Tom Murphy Freeway. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $13, making it an economical option. Given the short duration and reasonable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single day's adventure within the Southeast region. It offers a mixed driving experience, balancing faster highway speeds with other road types.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.5 miles from Bowdon, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tom Murphy Freeway
43.4 mi
47m
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
11.1 mi
12m
Rome Street
9.6 mi
13m
Roswell Road
6.4 mi
11m
Fulton Industrial Boulevard Northwest
2 mi
3m
River Valley Road Northwest
1.2 mi
3m
North Carroll Street
1 mi
1m
Abernathy Road Northwest
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Tom Murphy Freeway
— 43.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bowdon, GA and Roswell, GA.
1
Start on GA 100
112 ft·4 sec·Wedowee Street
2
Continue on GA 100
1.0 mi·1 min·North Carroll Street
3
Continue on GA 100
9.6 mi·13 min·Rome Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 20 East: AtlantaUse the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 20
43 mi·47 min·Tom Murphy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 49Toward GA 70: Fulton Industrial Boulevard, Fulton County AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
0.3 mi·44 sec·Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway Northwest
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 285 NorthUse the left lane.
11
Merge onto I 285
11 mi·12 min·Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·23 sec
Exit 24Toward Riverside DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
134 ft·2 sec
Toward Riverside Drive
14
Turn slight right
214 ft·6 sec
15
Turn right onto Riverside Drive Northwest
478 ft·14 sec·Riverside Drive Northwest
16
Turn slight right onto Riverside Drive Northwest
0.6 mi·1 min·Riverside Drive Northwest
17
Turn right onto River Valley Road Northwest
0.5 mi·1 min·River Valley Road Northwest
18
Keep slight right at fork onto River Valley Road Northwest
0.7 mi·1 min·River Valley Road Northwest
19
Turn right onto Johnson Ferry Road Northwest
0.2 mi·24 sec·Johnson Ferry Road Northwest
20
Continue on Abernathy Road Northwest
0.7 mi·1 min·Abernathy Road Northwest
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Turn left onto GA 9
6.4 mi·11 min·Roswell Road
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on GA 9; GA 120
0.5 mi·1 min·North Atlanta Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto GA 9; GA 120
393 ft·9 sec·North Atlanta Street
24
Arrive at destination
GA 9; GA 120
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 41-minute drive, you have the flexibility to depart at a time that suits you best. Since it's a short trip of 79 miles, planning specific stops isn't essential, but be aware of the $13 fuel cost and ensure you have enough to reach Roswell, GA comfortably. The longest stretch on the Tom Murphy Freeway is 43.4 miles, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before entering that section. The 'mixed drive' profile suggests paying attention to changing speed limits and road conditions as you transition between highway and other road types.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.5 miles from Bowdon, GA, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 17 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.5 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roswell, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bowdon, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bowdon, GA
This is one driving day of about 79 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Bowdon, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Tom Murphy Freeway for about 43.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.6 and 68.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
10.6 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 East: Atlanta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 20 East: Atlanta
5
10.9 mi into trip|~15m in|I 20 / Tom Murphy Freeway
Merge onto I 20 / Tom Murphy Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
54.4 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward GA 70: Fulton Industrial Boulevard, Fulton County Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49
Toward GA 70: Fulton Industrial Boulevard, Fult...
7
57.5 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Turn left toward I 285 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 285 North
7
68.8 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward Riverside Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 24
Toward Riverside Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.35 one way
$24.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.51
$27.02
premium
$4.70
$14.62
$29.24
diesel
$5.61
$17.44
$34.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.7
0
$8.30
$3.79
Efficient EV
19.8
0
$6.91
$3.16
EV Truck/SUV
31.6
0
$11.06
$5.06
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bowdon, GA
Late night
in Bowdon on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Roswell, GA
Late night
in Roswell on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 41m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up,...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
$5
near mile 76.3
Park Closure: Island Ford Trail Closures Winter 2025-2026
Park Closure: Restrooms and Water Fountains Unavailable at Powers Island and Akers Mill
Welcome to Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District where a young boy grows up in a time of segregation. He was moved by destiny to lead the modern civil rights movemen...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 57.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied driving experience on this 79-mile route. With 55% of the journey on highways, you'll encounter stretches of efficient travel, notably a 43.4-mile segment on the Tom Murphy Freeway. The profile is described as a 'mixed drive,' suggesting a transition between faster-paced freeway conditions and potentially more localized roads as you approach your destination. This blend means you won't be solely on the interstate, offering a dynamic feel to the drive. The drive progresses through different types of roadways, keeping things interesting behind the wheel.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.4 mi on Tom Murphy Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.6 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.9 miles (I 20 / Tom Murphy Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bowdon, GA to Roswell, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Fulton County Airport along the way.
Fulton County Airport
54.4 mi in|~1h 2m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 79 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.4 miles on Tom Murphy Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Roswell, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.9 miles (I 20 / Tom Murphy Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Roswell, GA before heading back.
